Five years later, she made her screen acting debut for director François Truffaut in his 1962 film, Antoine and Colette. Pisier had a brief but incendiary romance with the older, married Truffaut. Despite its end, she later appeared in Truffaut's Stolen Kisses (Baiser volés, 1968) and Love on the Run (L'Amour en fuite, 1979). Love on the Run was the fifth and final film in Truffaut's series about the character Antoine Doinel, and Pisier was credited as a co-writer of the screenplay.[1] In a review in The New York Times, film critic Vincent Canby praised her for a "ravishing performance".[2]

She gained widespread public recognition in 1975 when she appeared in Jean-Charles Tacchella's popular comedy, Cousin Cousine. Her role as the volatile Karine earned her a César Award for Best Supporting Actress.[3]

Returning to France, Pisier made her directorial debut with The Governor's Party (Le Bal du gouverneur, 1990), which she adapted from her own novel. She also played Madame Verdurin in Raúl Ruiz's adaptation of Marcel Proust, Time Regained (Le Temps retrouvé, 1999). Her final film as director was with Bérénice Bejo (winner of the César Award for Best Actress in The Artist (film)) in "Like An Airplane" ("Comme un avion", 2002).

Pisier's first marriage to Georges Kiejman ended in divorce.[1][4] She resided in Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, Var, and was married to Thierry Funck-Brentano. The couple had a son, Mathieu, and a daughter, Iris.[1]

The 66-year-old actress died on 24 April 2011. She was found dead in her swimming pool by Funck-Brentano and is believed to have drowned.[1][3] She is survived by her sister Évelyne, brother Gilles, and both children.[1] The local mayor announced her death to the news media and PresidentNicolas Sarkozy made a public statement honouring “her supreme elegance born of the most perfect simplicity.”[5][1]